French language’s global gains hide decline in Europe

According to a study released in November 2014 by the International Organisation of la Francophonie (IOF), the French language went into decline in Europe since 2010, with the number of speakers falling by 8%.

In the non-francophone regions of Belgium, Switzerland and Luxembourg, French remains the most commonly taught foreign language, but elsewhere in Europe, the teaching of French is in decline, concluded the study.

However, due to large gains in Sub-Saharan Africa, the world's francophone population increased by 7%.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Sprechen Sie Deutsch? Merkel wants more German spoken in EU http://www.europeansources.info/record/sprechen-sie-deutsch-merkel-wants-more-german-spoken-in-eu/

ESO: Background information: Future of French language 'to be decided in Brussels' http://www.europeansources.info/record/future-of-french-language-to-be-decided-in-brussels/

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